In response to the unrest sparked by ongoing protests demanding reforms to the quota system in government jobs, mobile internet services have been temporarily shut down, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said today (July 18, 2024). During a press briefing at the ICT Tower in Dhaka’s Agargaon, Palak addressed the media, saying, “Mobile internet services have been temporarily halted due to the unstable situation created centering the protests. Once the situation stabilizes, we will restore connectivity promptly.” ‘Complete Shutdown’: Protestors, police clash in Dhaka’s Uttara; police box and 2 buses vandalized The state minister explained that the suspension was necessary to curb the spread of rumors and maintain stability amid the protests. “Various groups with vested interest have been spreading false information on social media, contributing to the instability. Hence, the decision to shut down mobile internet services was made without prior notice, based on the evolving situation,” he added. Palak also highlighted the government’s communication with major social media platforms like Facebook, Google, YouTube, and TikTok. He expressed dissatisfaction with their privacy policies concerning the removal of controversial content. “We have contacted these companies, but their privacy policies regarding content removal are not satisfactory. If their actions lead to any casualties, they will not be exempt from accountability. These companies must establish data centers in Bangladesh and operate in compliance with local laws,” he said. Read more: Shutdown cripples capital city amid clashes between police and protesters

A clash erupted between police and students of Brac University in the Badda area of Dhaka on Thursday (July 18, 2024) when the students gathered there as part of the ‘complete shutdown’ programme.  The situation turned worse as police fired several rounds of tear gas to disperse the students in the morning in front of the university campus. Witnesses said the university students started coming to the campus in the morning and took to the streets. ‘Complete Shutdown’: Protestors, police clash in Dhaka’s Uttara; police box and 2 buses vandalized As police chased them they went up to the gate of BRAC University. They came back together again and chased the policemen, triggering a clash. The students chased the policemen to Badda U-loop. However, additional police were deployed in the area to control the situation.   Deputy Officer-in-Charge Abdul Haq Abbasi of Badda Police Station confirmed the clash, stating that one police officer was injured and is receiving medical treatment. Students allege that police entered their campus and lobbed tear gas and sound grenades, resulting in several injuries, though the exact number is unknown. Shutdown cripples capital city amid clashes between police and protesters Apart from Brac University students, students from several nearby colleges and North South University also gathered, engaging in clashes with police. A tense situation has been prevailing with fears of further confrontations.

As part of the announced countrywide ‘Complete Shutdown’ from dawn to dusk today (July 18, 2024), students demanding quota system reform from several colleges and universities took to the streets in Dhaka’s Uttara. Their protest turned violent when police intervened to disperse them, leading to clashes. To bring the situation under control, police lobbed tear gas multiple times. Protesters then vandalized a police box and two buses. The clash occurred in front of Zamzam Tower in Uttara. Read more: Situation tense at Badda after students-police clash According to witnesses, the protestors gathered at the same location as on previous days. Upon receiving news of the gathering, police rushed to the scene and began firing tear gas shells to clear the street, which sparked the confrontation. At one point, protesters retaliated by hurling brickbats at the police, leading to repeated chase and counter-chase. During the clash, demonstrators vandalized a traffic police box near Zamzam Tower and damaged two buses. Sub-nspector (SI) Ripon, duty officer at Uttara Purbo Paschim Police Station, said that the clashes were going on and the extent of the damages was yet to be determined. Police officers are actively working at the scene. Read more: Shutdown cripples capital city amid clashes between police and protesters

Firing teargas and rubber bullets riot police clashed with quota-reform protesters in different parts of the capital city in the first hours of Thursday (July 18, 2024) at the start of a nationwide complete shutdown. Riot police fought pitched battles with the protesters in Badda, Merul, Uttara, Dhamandi, Motijheel and Arambagh. Police used teargas shells and rubber bullets. Cocktails --home-made bombs-- rocked different parts of the city. The clashes also spread in the alleys of the residential areas causing panic among residents, eyewitnesses said. Private BRAC university at Badda and its surrounding areas turned into battle fields as students, including from schools took to the streets defying heavy presence of police and Border Guards of Bangladesh personnel. The government has deployed 229 BGB platoons to maintain law and order during the shutdown. No casualties have so far been reported during the first few hours of violence on Thursday. But an 18-year-old boy was reportedly killed in clashes at Jatrabari on Wednesday night raising the death toll from ongoing quota protests to seven. Read more: Violent clashes continue in Dhaka’s Jatrabari, Shanir Akhra areas during shutdown Hundreds have been injured in the first few days of clashes. Clashes between protesters, many carrying sticks, and riot police occurred at Uttara, where dozens of colleges and schools are located. At Uttara's Housebuilding area thousands of students, including women, blocked the main road connecting Tongi with the capital city. Carrying sticks the students have gathered from all educational institutions in the surrounding areas. No transport except rickshaws are seen here. After chases and counter-chases seen in the morning amid teargassing riot police seemed to have retreated down the road at Azampur. Read more: ‘Complete Shutdown’: Protestors, police clash in Dhaka’s Uttara; police box and 2 buses vandalized "We are not going anywhere until our demands are met," said a 16-year-old girl who has joined from a nearby English-medium school. UNB is withholding both the name of the girl and her school for their safety. During the shutdown the capital city's usual chaotic traffic was absent with a few BRTC double-decker buses opening on almost empty streets. Rickshaws ruled the streets in absence of public transports as commuters were seen walking to the destinations or standing on bus stations in the hope of catching a transport. The students called for the shutdown, shortly after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a televised speech on Wednesday evening called for restraint and urged the protesters to wait patiently until the Supreme Court verdict is delivered on the quota issue. She assured the students that they won't be disappointed with the upcoming verdict scheduled for the first week of next month. She also ordered a judicial enquiry into the killings during the protests to identify the culprits. Read more: Situation tense at Badda after students-police clash

Bangladesh has expressed extreme disappointment over US State Department’s unsubstantiated claim of deaths of at least two persons, and said such “baseless claim” can fuel the violence and undermine Bangladesh government’s efforts. “Use of unverified information to make such baseless claims can fuel violence and undermine Bangladesh government’s efforts to maintain a peaceful environment to allow non-violent protests or movement,” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seheli Sabrin said today. Student violence: Is US State Department being misled by rumours over claim of two deaths? She said the foreign ministry is “extremely disappointed” by the response of Mathew Miller, Spokesperson of the US State Department, to a question during a regular press briefing on July 15, 2024 (Washington time), where he made unsubstantiated claims of at least two deaths in the ongoing student protests in Bangladesh. The foreign ministry spokesperson said freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are cornerstones of democracy, and the government remains steadfast to uphold those rights of the citizens while also safeguarding public property and order. She said violence does not have any place in democracy and politics. “We have recently witnessed with horror an attempt on the life of former US President Donald Trump during a peaceful rally in Pennsylvania, USA,” Sabrin said. She said they are “deeply concerned” by the incident and such violence runs against the core values of democracy. “The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh have separately condemned the attack and sighed relief learning that Trump was safe and recovering,” she said. To uphold democracy and democratic values, the foreign ministry spokesperson said they are committed to working together with the US. Quota reform protests: Students block several points of Dhaka-Barishal Highway When specific information on the State Department’s claim was sought from the US Embassy in Dhaka, its acting spokesperson Leonard Hill told UNB this morning that the statement was “monitoring reports” that included the injuries and deaths. “We are always looking for the most accurate information and welcome journalists’ work to uncover the truth,” he said.

Though there is no report in Bangladesh media or from law enforcement agencies regarding any death during the current student protests, the US Department of State says otherwise raising a question whether it fell prey to rumours seen on social media platforms. "So we are aware of and are monitoring reports of widespread student protests in Dhaka and around Bangladesh that have killed two and attacked and injured hundreds," US Department of State Spokesperson Mathew Miller said at a regular media briefing in Washington on Monday, July 15. How a night of utter mayhem unfolded at JU When specific information was sought from the US Embassy in Dhaka, its acting Spokesperson Leonard Hill told UNB on Tuesday morning that the statement was “monitoring reports” that included the injuries and deaths. "We are always looking for the most accurate information and welcome journalists’ work to uncover the truth," he said. Quota reform: Protesters announce their Tuesday programme Spokesperson Miller said the "freedom of expression and peaceful assembly" are essential building blocks of any thriving democracy. "We condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this violence," he said during the briefing. Despite BCL cranking up violence to intimidate students, quota reformists not cowering Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said the government would not allow anyone to cause instability in the country, noting that there is an effort to turn the anti-quota movement into an anti-state and anti-government movement by exploiting the sentiments of young students. “The government will not allow this. This government is a very strong government. No political evil force will be allowed to destabilise the country by playing with the sentiments of young students,” he told reporters while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hasan said anti-state slogans were chanted from the quota movement on Sunday night. “Through the Liberation War in 1971, this country gained independence, sacrificing the blood of 30 lakh martyrs. Here, chanting slogans in favour of razakars are anti-state.” “It is clear that political evil forces have entered the quota movement, including BNP and Jamaat, who want to destabilise the country, and some of their planted people are leading it,” Hasan said.

Police submitted its chargesheet Monday against two leaders of the Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, that led the movement against quotas in government jobs, in cases filed over the alleged rape of a Dhaka University student, and under the Digital Security Act. Based on their investigation, the police have left out four of the accused in the victim's complaint,  including the movement's tallest leader, Nurul Haque Nur, who went on to be elected as Vice president of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) and is now in the stages of a nascent political career.  READ: Uttara Club's ex-president Nasiruddin,4 others arrested over rape attempt on Pori Moni Police found no proof of Nur's involvement in the alleged incident.   Detective Branch Inspector Md Wahiduzzaman, the Investigative Officer of the case, submitted the chargesheet with the chief metropolitan magistrate's court in Dhaka. Police have charged Najmul Hasan Shohag, joint convener of the COSP, with rape; and Hasan Al Mamun, a former convener of COSP, under DSA. Also exempted were a joint convener of COSP, Md Saiful Islam, vice-president of the organization Md Najmul Huda and DU student Abdullah-Hil-Baki. On September 21, 2020, a female DU student filed a case with city’s Kotwali police station accusing VP Nur and five others of rape and abetting rape. According to the complaint, the plaintiff had a good friendship with Mamun but at some point he started hinting his interest in an intimate relationship. On January 3, 2020, Mamun had allegedly raped the plaintiff in his residence in Lalbagh after  luring her with promises of marriage. READ: TikTok out-of-control: Teen goes for shoot, gets raped Later Najmul Hasan Shohag allegedly raped her on Februry 9 the same year, in a Chandpur-bound launch after promising to take her to meet Mamun, who went into hiding over the rape charges.